JAMAICA Praise Chorale is preparing to release their debut EP in July.

“We’re planning to release a four- or five-track EP come July. All original material written by members of the group and composed by Ian Hird, our musical director.

Our objective is to produce original material with a unique Jamaican flavour, as we have been fed a diet of imported music and we have good musicians in Jamaica.

We want to add our bit to improve the gospel scene in Jamaica,” Len Davidson, member of Jamaica Praise Chorale’s management committee, told the Jamaica Observer.

The group was hosting its Easter cantata entitled ‘Rejoice! Di Messiah Lives’ held at the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew, on Easter Sunday. Also sharing the evening’s spotlight was the Boulevard Baptist Church Choir.

Davidson said a dozen songs have been shortlisted for the yet-to-be-titled project. “All the tracks have been recorded and are currently being mixed at Jon Williams’ studio,” he said.

In speaking with the Observer, Hird said it was critical to keep the tracks original. “Everybody has a message and we’re using our music to spread the word of God. We’re doing this to his glory and honour,” he said.

According to the musical director, Bawl Fi Jesus, Hands of Grace, Who Has Believed? (Isaiah 53 vs 1-8), and No Other Name have made the cut. The latter, he said, has a reggaeton flavour.

“The set will be a semiopera fused with jazz-funk fusion, with some reggae and Nyahbinghi music,” he said. And if Sunday’s concert was anything to go by, the set will be well received.

The audience was treated to several of the chorale’s Easter pieces with a Jamaican twist.

They included: Hear Me When I Call, When Di Messiah Come, Caiaphas: Not Durin’ Di Feas’!, Disciples: Waste of Perfume, Jesus: All Far Away, and Jesus: Lord Watch Over Me.

“We aim to please in all our performances and this is no exception. We set very high standards and we to maintain and surpass them,” Davidson said at the event.

Started in 2013, the Jamaica Praise Chorale is an interdenominational group with up to 25 singers and musicians